WASHINGTON (AP):

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said yesterday that an 'economic hurricane' has swept the world and warned United States (US) leaders against viewing the crisis as isolated to America's borders.

In a formal address to Congress, Brown said resorting to protectionism would make every nation vulnerable.

"Should we succumb to a race to the bottom and a protectionism that history tells us that, in the end, protects no one?" he asked. "No. We should have the confidence that we can seize the opportunities ahead and make the future work for us."

He was addressing a joint meeting of Congress, an honour reserved for America's closest allies, and was met by the lawmakers with pomp and enthusiasm. Despite the gloomy global economic outlook, the prime minister conveyed optimism in a punchy speech pointing to future opportunity.

"We should have the confidence, America and Britain most of all, that we can seize the opportunities ahead and make the future work for us," he said.

Political fortunes

He predicted that the world economy would double in the next two decades.

Brown's remarks come as he is looking for a boost to his own political fortunes. In hard political times at home he hopes to benefit from his earlier meeting with the new US president and to demonstrate British leadership at a time of economic uncertainty.